The Great Northern Derby was a set-weights thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 2400 m at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It was discontinued in 1972 after being combined with the New Zealand Derby.
| Group I race | |
 Beau Vite, 1940 winner. | |
| Location | Ellerslie Racecourse Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1875 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 12 furlongs |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Set-Weights |
History edit
The inaugural running of the Derby was in May 1875, when racing was held at Ellerslie Racecourse for the first time. Just three horses took part, of which one was withdrawn before the start and another failed to complete the course, leaving Toi to finish the race and become the first Derby winner. In 1887 it was renamed the ARC Great Northern Derby Principal race over 12F
The race kept the name, the Great Northern Derby, regularly until 1973 when it was combined with the New Zealand Derby from Riccarton (Christchurch) to form one race, called the New Zealand Derby, which was from then onwards run at Ellerslie. Riccarton was instead given two 1600m races for three-year-olds in place of its Derby, the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and the New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
Only a small number of fillies, including the great Desert Gold, have ever won the Derby against the male horses. Many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses feature on the Derby winners' list, including Kindergarten, Desert Gold, Mainbrace and Gloaming.
Winners edit
- 1972 - Corroboree
- 1971 - Master John
- 1970 - Kirrama
- 1969 - Piko
- 1968 - Bardall
- 1967 - Ben Lomond
- 1966 - Star Belle
- 1965 - Peterman
- 1964 - Sobig
- 1963 - Ichtar
- 1962 - Tatua
- 1961 - Cracksman
- 1960 - Stipulate
- 1959 - Gitano
- 1958 - Lawful
- 1957 - Passive/Gibraltar
- 1956 - Syntax
- 1955 - Somerset Fair
- 1954 - Fox Myth
- 1953 - Programme
- 1952 - Dalray
- 1951 - Mainbrace
- 1950 - Sweet Spray
- 1949 - Tauloch
- 1948 - Sweet Nymph
- 1947 - Beau Le Havre
- 1946 - Lady Foxbridge
- 1945 - Coronaire
- 1944 - Expanse
- 1943 - Indian Princess
- 1942 - Regal Fox
- 1941 - Kindergarten
- 1940 - Beau Vite
- 1939 - Defaulter
- 1938 - Courtcraft
- 1937 - Essex
- 1936 - Greek Shepherd
- 1935 - Gay Blonde
- 1934 - Red Manfred
- 1933 - Silver Scorn
- 1932 - Bronze Eagle
- 1931 - Karapoti
- 1930 - Hunting Cry
- 1929 - Red Heckle
- 1928 - Martarma
- 1927 - Commendation
- 1926 - Star Stranger
- 1925 - Count Cavour
- 1924 - Ballymena
- 1923 - Enthusiasm
- 1922 - Winning Hit
- 1921 - Gasbag
- 1920 - Royal Stag
- 1919 - Gloaming
- 1918 - Estland
- 1917 - Sasanof
- 1916 - Desert Gold
- 1915 - Reputation
- 1914 - Cherubini
- 1913 - Bon Reve
- 1912 - Counterfeit
- 1911 - Danube
- 1910 - Kilwinning
- 1909 - Husbandman
- 1908 - Boniform
- 1907 - Zimmerman
- 1906 - Multifid
- 1905 - Gladstone
- 1904 - Gladsome
- 1903 - Wairiki
- 1902 - Menschikoff
- 1901 - Renown
- 1900 - Miss Delaval
- 1899 - Blue Jacket
- 1898 - St. Crispin
- 1897 - Nestor
- 1896 - Fabulist
- 1895 - Stepfeldt
- 1894 - Loyalty
- 1893 - St. Hippo
- 1892 - Morion
- 1891 - Medallion
- 1890 - Tirailleur
- 1889 - Cuirassier
- 1888 - Sextant
- 1887 - Disowned
- 1886 - Foul Shot
- 1885 - Tigridia
- 1884 - Nelson
- 1883 - Welcome Jack
- 1882 - Fitz Hercules
- 1881 - Tim Whiffler
- 1880 - Libeller
- 1879 - Omega
- 1878 - Venus Transit
- 1877 - Danebury
- 1876 - Ariel
- 1875 - Toi